Loose-leaf binder device



Nov. 7, 1950 J. c. DAwsoN, JR 2,528,866 I LOOSE-LEAF BINDERDEVICE v Filed Aug. 5, 1946 /fwww Patentecl Nov. 7, 1950 James C. DawsongJr., Kirkwood, M0.; assignorto Loosev Leaf Metalsv Co., St. Louis, Mo.,a corporation of Missouri Application August 5, 1946', Serial No. 688;,{173

` The -presient invention erelates generally to loose leaf binders, and more particularly to la locking mechanism for loose leaf binders.v

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel locking mechanism for loose leaf binders which` in one extreme position maintains fthe binder in closed relation and in another extreme position permits full opening of the binder for the insertion or removal of loose leaf pages.

Another object is to provide a novel locking mechanism for loose leaf binders which incorporates an intermediate position of parts which permits partial opening of the binder for inspection of the contained sheets without permitting removal thereof. Another object is to provide a novel locking mechanism for loose leaf binders which automatically locks vthe binder in closed position upon closing the covers thereof. Y Another object is to provide a novel locking mechanism for loose leaf binders which is readily and easily finger pressed for release from its locking positions, but which requires no finger manipulation in assuming an intermediate locking position or a closed locking positionafter the` 4 olaiin. (c1. 129417)',

binder `has been fully opened for loose leaf sheet insertion or removal. -Another object is to provide a novel locking mechanism Yfor loose leaf binders which has one partJthe'reof formed integral with the= looseA leaf binder metal, which simplifies the locking construction. Other `objects are to provide a novel locking mechanismv which incorporates a minimum number of parts, which is easy and simple tofoperatc, which is adapted to give long service without maintenance, which is positive in its locking action, which will not slip loose short of actual manipulation of the locking member, and which is both inexpensive to produce and readily fabricated.

Other objects and advantages and the forego- 'ing are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1y is a* plan view of a` portion of a loose leaf binder metal incorporating arjlocking mechanism embodying the teachings of the present invention; f A

Fig. 2 is an end VView on a smaller scale of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the locking mechanism in the intermediate locking position;

Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 3 showinglthe loose leaf binder metal fully opened to lloose leaf page removal or insertion position andthe locking mechanism disengaged; and .r

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the? line I--I of-Fig.3. 1 .j

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, I0 indicates generally a loose leaf binder metal which supports at one end la locking mechanism generally designated rI2;con.-. structed in accordance with'the teachings of the present invention. l;

The metal I0 includes two body members-I4 and .I6 which are pivotally mountedonashaft I8 forming a hinge connection of usual construction. Eachbody member I4 and I5 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced posts f2.0 which .are secured theretov by .welding or otherwise .and which are disposed in offset opposed relation.l as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each post 20 vis formed as a segment of a circle the center .of whioh1is the shaft I8. It is to be understoodthatgsuitable binder backs or covers are secured to outeriwalls 22 vof the body members I4 and JIS in the usual manner. d l

The locking mechanism I2 incorporates as one member thereof a portion 24"of end platei26 of the bodymember I4. Theportion 24 isinwardly oil'set at 28 from the rest of the end plate 26 and is shaped asis clearly shown in the drawingzto include shoulders 3U and 32, a concave edge. 34, and convex edges 36 and 38. Y f f The locking mechanism I2 also includes a vlatch member 4U which is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft 42 journaled in a suitable opening. ingend plate 44 of the body member I6. Thelatch member 40 includes a tongue or detent 46, a flange 48 which terminates at one end in a iinger piece 50, and a projecting inwardly offset'tipportion 52. -The tip portion 52 extends into one end of a coiled compression spring 54, the other end of said spring 54 encircling an'upstanding metal piece 56.struck up from the body member :I 6. As is clear from the drawing, the main body of the latch member 40 is disposed against the endplate 44 with theflange 48 (Fig. 1) overlyingth'e' edge of the end plate 44.-`

The latch member 40 and theportion 24 of the end plate 26 are disposed in the same-plana'fa's is clear from Fig. 1, and are so related that the tongue 46 of the former engages the shoulder A3l) of the latter when the body members I4 and I6 of the metal I0 are in closed position (Fig. 3). Further, the tongue 46 of the latch 4B engages the shoulder 32 of the portion 24 in an interthe metal I to the position of Fig. 5 it is butal necessary to press downwardly onY theringer piece 50 of the locking mechanism l,'whih 'disv` engages the tongue 46 from :the shoulderigperf'f'; mitting the body members I4 vand I6 to befmanue' ally moved to the position of Fig. 5, the nger pieces 50 being maintained pressed position until the tongue 46 has cleared the intermediate shoulder 32. sired to open the metaliii to the intermediate position of `Fig. .4, the linger piece. 5U is released immediately after thetongue 46 has Ebeenclea-rcd fromengagement with the shoulder LSB-.. To close the metal i0 from Jeither .the intermediatenporsiftion of Fig. 4 .or the Vfully opened .positonoffFig 5, it is but necessary to manually fold the body members .L4 Yand 1.6:, for lthe convex edgenffthe tongue 4.6 will ride .over the convex edges=38 :and 350i the .portion '24, and the tongue 4t will drop .down into engagement withV the, shoulder.: :3,3 through theaaction of the springfll; ,'s.

It is manifest that there hasbeen ,provided-.a novel locking mechanism efor; yloose leafxfbinders .which fulfillsA vall the objects and advantages soughttherefor. Y a .ai 1... if; fIt' is to rbe understood thatthe foregoing,;de.; soription and the accompanying Vdrawing 'have been given tby way .of illustrationv ia-ndl example.- It is also'to beunderstood that rearrangement of parts, v,changes in form of elements,- vand substi-z tutionlof equivalents, which will Lbe4 4readily ,rapparent `to .those skillediinfthe art, arecontemplated as within the 'scope-.ofthe present intiem tion, the invention being :limitedf only-bysthe claims which follow.

1; in .combinar-ion, aioose leaf bmdr'inetai when said body members are. inoolosed,y relation .g

to lock theloose. leaf vbinder metal inv closedposi.. tion, andmeans for releasing. the? engagement of the latch memberwithrthe Vshoulder-r to.- permit the loose leaf; binder metal to be .openedxfas :,z 2. jIn combination, a loose-:leafl binderxmetal including a pair .of hinged bodygmemberspone of said body members having an-,end p lataw-itha portion formed vto provide' spacedshoulderssaid in downwardly.` t

Should it `be de- Vportion `being inwardly oiset, the "other-z body member having an end plate overlapping said shoulder portion and being in the same plane as the remaining portion of the end plate of said one body member, and forming therewith a rsmooth extension surface when said body members are in closed position, a latch member pivoted on the end plate of said other body mem- ;'benjjsaid latch member 'being disposed to engage -'one ofl said shoulders when said body members are in closed relation to lock the loose-leaf binder in closed position, another of said shoulders delining an intermediate position of said metal, and

means for releasing the engagement of the latch .l member with the `shoulders to permit the looseleaf binder metal to be opened.

3. TInv combination, a loose-leaf binder metal including a pair of hinged body members, one of said body members having an end plate formed integral therewith, saidend plate having a portion formed to providea shoulder, said portion being; inwardly offset, the other body member havingan Eend plate @verla-wine Said shouldered portionand being in th'e'sameplane as the Yremai-ning portion of the end plate of said one body member and ,forming ,therewith a smooth ,extension surface, when ,saidbOdy-.members are .in a closed-fp0stioafa :latch member pivoted 011 the end plate ofsaid other body member.. Said latch member rbeing disposed to engage said shoulder whensaid body members are v,Closed-,relation so,V as torlock the loose-leaf `binder metal Vin a o lpsed position, and means for releasing the ,ensagement-of the latch member with thefshonlder tof-:permit :theloose-leaf Abinder metal t0 be opened. l v m4n-In combination, .a loose-leaf vbinder `-mpetal ,me a: nai-r of, hinsedbOdy members. one of- '.Saldfbody members having' endplate for-med integral therewith, said end plate having afportionfiormed ,tof prow/idea shoulder, `said portion beingf inwardly Dsen-'the otlier'loodyr member havineaniend relate formeel integral therewith. Sad ,-end.,plate overlapping vsarl shouldered. .p0rlolrand being vin the Same planeas the remain,-A ing portion ofgthe .end plate ofsaid one bodymember andv `forming therewith a smooth Vex,- tension surface when said body members arefinI closed position, a latch member pivoted on the and platejof said other body Amem ber, -lsali ;l latch member ,beingnisposed toenga'ge said shoulder when said bodygmembers-,are in :closed relation so as to lock the loose-leaf binder metal-grin closedpositionf andfnieans for ireleasing the engagement-of the `latch member with theshoulder to. permit the lloose-leaf binder metal to be Qpened' i l v JAMES C. DAWSON, JR.

v nEFERENoEs CITED j T he following references are of record lin the le of this patent:

* Y NirED STATES PATENTS Number 

